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SAN ANTONIO — A Republican hopeful for the U.S. Senate who used a racial slur to describe undocumented immigrants apologized for the language, promising “not to use it again.”

Chris Mapp, a Port O'Connor businessman, used the term “wetback” to describe undocumented immigrants during his editorial board appearance last month with the Dallas Morning News and doubled down on the language in a subsequent interview with the San Antonio Express-News.

His use of the word drew ire from Democrats and Republicans alike, but last week in an appearance in San Antonio, Mapp issued an apology.

“I had a close friend, who is Hispanic, tell me today that the term is used even for legal citizens, and I really did not realize,” said Mapp, 53. “I have never used it but to (describe) illegals. (It was) still wrong and I apologize… and promise not to use it ever again.”

Mapp also said he was taken out of context that undocumented immigrants illegally crossing the border should be shot by property owners.

The tea party candidate was asked about The Dallas Morning News editorial in which he was paraphrased as saying “ranchers should be allowed to shoot on sight anyone illegally crossing the border on to their land.” Mapp seemed to double down.

“Our borders can either be sealed by choice or force, and so far choice hasn't worked,” he initially said. Afterward, Mapp indicated he believed he was taken out of context and said he “would never advocate killing.”

Mapp said he has close Hispanic friends who have come to the country legally and that have made an impression on how he views immigration. He said he supports legal immigration and knows many people crossing the border are looking for a job opportunity and that they “deserve that chance”.

In a letter sent to the Express-News, Mapp said he believes children of undocumented immigrants and those who are here via green card “are not illegal immigrants and should not be classified as such.”

“They want to work, go to school and just participate in a country that offers opportunity to be whatever they choose to become,” Mapp said.

Mapp is in a crowded primary with seven opponents, including U.S. Sen. John Cornyn.